Electric plug



Dec. 13, 1932. P. ALLENIC ELECTRIC PLUG Filed Oct. 25, 1929 ll ezz 45 9 s Aim/Mr Patented Dec. 13, 1932 PATENT OFFICE,

PAUL ALLENIC, OF PARIS, FRANCE ELECTRIC PLUG Application filed October 25, 1929, Serial No. 402,459, and in France November 3, 1928.

This invention has for its object the provision of an electric plug characterized essentially in that the same comprises means to prevent the accidental separation between the male or movable part from the female or stationary part as a result of a traction upon the current leads.

For this purpose, the male portion is made up of two similar and symmetric insulating members pivotally secured to each other at one end thereof and combined near the other end with a spring device urging the parts away from each other. These insulating members each have a contact pin projecting outside and terminating into a hook or lug. They also have means to securely attach the leads run therethrough which latter are efliciently retained therein by means of set screws by which same are wedged in recesses provided for that purpose.

The stationary or base portion of the device is provided with contact sockets to which are led the current leads and characterized in that they are formed with a recess provided at a suitable point lengthwise thereof with a retaining flange. These retaining sockets, the flared out orifices of which open at a level different from that of the orifices provided for the fitting of the said base portion so as to avoid any hesitation or mistake when the pins of the male part are to be inserted, are closer to each other than the said pins so that the same have to be driven towards each other by pressing upon the pivotal parts in which they are secured whenever a connection is to be established. When they are brought to the correct distance they can be stuck in as would be done with an ordinary plug and, the lugs on reaching the cavities in the sockets, are driven away from each other by the spring which hooks them behind the flanges in these recesses, any disconnection result ing from a traction on the male portion being thus prevented.

To disengage the said male portion it is sufficient to press the pivotal parts thereof towards each other in order to unlock the retaining lugs and then to exert a sufficient pull.

In a modification of this embodiment, the

retaining lugs are provided in the sockets of the female part while the recessestherefor are provided in the male part.

The appended drawing shows by way of example an embodiment of the plug of which the above is a general description.

Figure 1 is a sectional view showing the female part of which Figure 2 is a top plan view.

Figure 3 is a cross section of the male part.

1 designates the insulating body of the female or stationary part which comprises a flange-like base portion 2 in which fixing holes 3' are provided.

3 and 4 designates sockets to which the leads are connected. These sockets are formed with inner recesses 6 wider than the apertures 7 into which the pins of the hereinafter described male part are to be fitted, flanges 8 being thus provided. The orifices of the sockets are slightly flared out at 9 to facilitate the insertion of the said pins. The pair of symmetrical insulating members providing the male part are indicated at 10 and 11; the same are pivotally assembled at 12 and acted upon by a compression spring 14 held in position by lugs 15 provided on the inner faces of the said members. The spreading of the same away from each other is limited by abutments 16 provided at the upper portions thereof beyond their fulcrum pin 12. The said members 10 and 11 have holes 17' drilled in them to receive the leads 18 which are secured by means of screws 19 whereby they are wedged in built in recesses 20 While their str pped off extremities engage into the hollow end of pins 21 and 22 in which they are secured by means of screws 23. The said pins terminate into a hook or lug 24.

The operation of this device is easy to understand as a description of the same has been given in the beg nning of this specification. It will not be further described.

While the device referred to, the details of which lend themselves to modifications according to the requirements can be used whenever electric current is to be tapped, it is particularly useful in its application to the leads for electric irons. In this case the leads will advisably be combined with a suitable wind-up device.

I claim:

Electric coupling means comprising a male part consisting of two insulating members pivotally secured to each other, spring means urging two members away from each other, an electrical contact pin projecting from the free end of each of said members, each of said pins being formed at its free end with a lug, means in said members to secure electrical leads to said pins, a base provided with electrical sockets to which leads may be secured, said sockets being formed with a recess in which said lugs may engage and being spaced apart a distance smaller than the maximum expansion between said pins whereby when said male member is mounted on said base, traction on said leads will not separate the former from the latter.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

PAUL ALLENIG. 

